2010 Porsche Panamera Interior

Controversy has swirled about Porsche’s upcoming Panamera sedan ever since the project was confirmed three years ago. And with every round of spy shots that emerges, revealing previously unseen aspects of its bloated, none-too-becoming exterior styling, the controversy is renewed.

But the interior photos we have included here, shot from inside the car and found on several Web sites including www.teamspeed.com, reveal a cabin that is edgy, sculpted, and sexy. In other words, it’s the exact opposite of the exterior.

The cowl appears nice and low, and a five-bomb gauge cluster echoes that of the legendary 911 Carrera. A large screen, which in these pictures is showing audio controls, relegates the climate controls to the lower console instead of the center stack. Also found on the lower console are the suspension-adjustment controls and more, arranged herringbone-style down its flanks.

Porsche evidently is concerned about cooling the Panamera’s large cabin, at least that’s the only way we can account for those elephant-ear vents. But what we like best about these pictures is what we don’t see in them: anything remotely resembling an iDrive, MMI, or COMAND knob, as the Panamera is likely to use the touch-screen-operated Porsche Communication Management system that debuted on the 2009 911.

This particular vehicle clearly has Porsche’s sophisticated PDK automated-manual transmission—also first seen on the ’09 911—which bodes well for its performance. After all, if Porsche can bring smiles to our faces in the 5000-lb Cayenne SUV, we’re relatively sure it can do the same thing in a low-slung four-door, no matter how it looks on the outside. Clearly, the best way to experience the car will be from the driver’s seat.